July 30, 2012

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSIn Syria, U.S. intelligence gapsThe United States is struggling to develop a clear understanding of opposition forces inside the country, according to U.S. officials.(By Greg Miller and Joby Warrick)

James Holmes appears in courtThe Colorado massacre suspect, his hair dyed reddish-orange, seemed lethargic at his first court hearing and did not speak.(By David A. Fahrenthold and Carol D. Leonnig)

Pioneering astronaut Sally Ride dies at 61Sally Ride, an astronaut and physicist who in 1983 became the first American woman sent into space, died of pancreatic cancer Monday at her home in La Jolla, Calif. She was 61.(By T. Rees Shapiro and Brian Vastag)

More intraparty incumbent battlesAlthough incumbent vs. incumbent contests won’t be decisive in determining control of the House, they disrupt friendships and help determine the future direction of both parties.(By Rosalind S. Helderman)

Returning migrants boost Mexico’s middle classIn the United States, they were illegal aliens. Back home, they are new entrepreneurs using the billions of dollars earned “on the other side” to create a Mexican middle class as the U.S. economy slowed in the global recession.(By William Booth and Nick Miroff)

NATIONStudy says young gay black men at high risk for HIVNewly released data indicate that more than half of all U.S. black men under 30 could be infected with the virus that causes AIDS in the next decade unless improvements are made. ( by Lena H. Sun , The Washington Post)

James Holmes appears in courtThe Colorado massacre suspect, his hair dyed reddish-orange, seemed lethargic at his first court hearing and did not speak. ( by David A. Fahrenthold and Carol D. Leonnig , The Washington Post)

Environmentalists target Republicans on climateThe League of Conservation Voters’ campaign will target five lawmakers who question the link between human activity and climate change, and will test how voters feel about global warming. ( by Juliet Eilperin , The Washington Post)

Costco gas station bill up for a voteThe Montgomery County Council will vote Tuesday on the measure, which would block the long-fought project near the Wheaton mall that some say would create a public health risk. ( by Victor Zapana , The Washington Post)

GAO report fails to resolve pay disputeA GAO report does not solve a dispute on whether federal workers are paid too much or too little compared with workers in the private sector. (, The Washington Post)

No pay study is definitive, GAO saysStudies have reached widely varying conclusions about how federal and non-federal pay compare, but no one approach is definitive, a GAO report says. ( by Eric Yoder and Lisa Rein , The Washington Post)

U.S. tribalism vs. Afghan tribalismAl Kamen’s In the Loop recommends Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s “Little America,” about the war within the U.S. war effort. (, The Washington Post)

In 2012, AIDS is a different beast for gay men in D.C.Gay D.C. in 2012 is a very different place than gay D.C. 30 years ago. It’s younger and more populous. More liberated socially and more equal legally. More complacent. But we still need to talk about HIV and AIDS. ( by Dan Zak , The Washington Post)

Hot Chip, Sleigh Bells: A disjointed pairingOn Sunday, Hot Chip and Sleigh Bells played hour-long back-to-back sets at Merriweather Post Pavilion. But it wasn’t entirely clear why they paired up in the first place. ( by Megan Buerger , The Washington Post)

BUSINESSWhy not Uncle Ben’s Crazy Housing Sale?The time has come for Ben S. Bernanke to announce that the Fed intends to begin buying huge numbers of mortgage-backed securities with the simple intention of bringing the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage down to about 2.5 percent and holding it there for one year, and one year only. (, The Washington Post)

Spain fears pull down stocksSpanish borrowing costs soared for the third-straight trading day on Monday, driving European and U.S. markets downward. ( by Michael Birnbaum and Steven Mufson , The Washington Post)

O’s settle for three out of fourJustin Masterson pitches into the eighth inning and prevents Baltimore from completing a four-game sweep in Cleveland. ( by Dan Connolly , The Washington Post)

Harper propels Nats past MetsBryce Harper belts a home run in his first at-bat in New York, then singles in the 10th inning to help Washington break it open. ( by Adam Kilgore , The Washington Post)

ACC coaches react to Penn St. sanctionsThough Monday represented the final day of the ACC’s football kickoff, the upcoming season was largely overshadowed by the Penn State situation. ( by Mark Giannotto , The Washington Post)

No job, but a shot at goldMaryland native Suzanne Stettinius delayed getting a job for a chance at a medal in the modern pentathlon in the Olympics. ( by Matt Breen , The Washington Post)

Google sells out of Nexus 7 16GB modelUsers looking to buy the Nexus 7 16GB version are encouraged to enter their e-mail addresses in order to be notified when the company gets more in stock. ( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

16GB Nexus 7 tablet sells outIt appears that the company did not prepare for the tremendous demand the device has attracted thus far. ( by VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)

Returning migrants boost Mexico’s middle classIn the United States, they were illegal aliens. Back home, they are new entrepreneurs using the billions of dollars earned “on the other side” to create a Mexican middle class as the U.S. economy slowed in the global recession. ( by William Booth and Nick Miroff in SANTA MARIA DEL REFUGIO, Mexico , The Washington Post)

James Holmes appears in courtThe Colorado massacre suspect, his hair dyed reddish-orange, seemed lethargic at his first court hearing and did not speak. ( by David A. Fahrenthold and Carol D. Leonnig , The Washington Post)

In Syria, U.S. intelligence gapsThe United States is struggling to develop a clear understanding of opposition forces inside the country, according to U.S. officials. ( by Greg Miller and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)

July 16, 2012

Gay R&B Vocalist Rahsaan Patterson Applauds 'Courageous’ Frank Ocean As the debate rages on whether or not Frank Ocean truly came out as gay, bisexual or was just detailing his personal memories of falling in love with a male friend four years ago, the fallout has truly been surreal. Before the buzz-heavy R&B vocalist posted a July 4 letter addressing rumors of his sexuality, Ocean tweeted of his conversation-igniting revelation, “my hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of the bullshit than we did I figured it’d be good to clarify.”

Rahsaan Patterson can more than identify with Frank Ocean. The veteran R&B singer—who scored a top 50 Billboard album and strong radio airplay in 1997 with his self-titled debut—was one of the first African-American soul artists to come out officially as gay during a 2007 interview with BET.com. For Patterson, Ocean’s statement represents a big moment. “I thought Frank coming out was bold; I thought it was courageous,” Patterson tells VIBE. “Particularly since he reps more of the hip-hop realm I found it even more courageous because that’s an area that a lot of folks that support hip-hop and the lifestyle of hip-hop don’t like to really confront and address. Kudos to him.”

Reactions within the R&B/hip-hop community to Ocean’s public statement have been surprisingly on the positive side (Solange Knowles tweeted “I salute you, brave soul. Independence Day” and veteran Queens rhymer Cormega offered, "Frank Ocean is more honest than the average industry person!"). Still, amongst the general African-American music buying public Ocean’s announcement has been a hard pill to swallow (derogatory comments like “Frank Ocean is gay. It’s been confirmed…So no more listening to him” have been omnipresent on the Web).

Historically, African-American musicians have rarely been upfront about their sexuality. For every Sylvester (the flamboyant disco icon never tried to hide the fact that he was gay) there is a Luther Vandross (the legendary vocalist reportedly kept his homosexuality a secret until his 2005 death). And in the overtly masculine world of hip-hop, homosexuality is viewed as a death knell; the sort of news that can literally derail a career. On the flipside, white pop and rock acts like David Bowie, Elton John, and Melissa Eldridge have experienced a more positive acceptance after coming out. It’s a dichotomy that bothers Patterson. READ MORE

Behind the framework, a cautionary cyber talePART 3 | The Tridium company’s widely used technology is a marvel of modern connectivity, but after its networks were found to be vulnerable to hackers, it is moving to boost its security.(By Robert O’Harrow Jr.)

NATIONSwords into plowsharesIn Hanoi, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Fulbright Exchange Program, which has involved 8,000 American and Vietnamese students, scholars, educators and businesspeople. (, The Washington Post)

Ban on U.S. investment in Burma is liftedThe move opens the door to U.S. companies, particularly in the energy sector, that have argued they were losing business to international competitors in Burma. ( by Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post)

D.C. to introduce enhanced 911Residents who opt-in will be able to tell emergency responders automatically about preexisting conditions, drug allergies and their home’s floor plan. ( by Mihir Zaveri , The Washington Post)

Metro to detail Green Line derailmentMetro officials, board’s safety and security committee will look at what caused the train to jump its tracks. ( by Lori Aratani and Ted Trautman , The Washington Post)

DHS faces more scrutinyCongress is being particularly inquisitive about the Department of Homeland Security, which marks its 10th birthday in November. Over a three-day period, six congressional hearings are examining the department. (, The Washington Post)

Mitt Romney booed during NAACP speechThe presumptive Republican nominee received the most hostile reception of his campaign and appeared visibly unsettled by three rounds of loud boos from NAACP audience members. ( by Philip Rucker , The Washington Post)

The Pentagon’s war on paperWhen it comes to reports to Congress that the Defense Department considers wasteful, the agency’s pique speaks volumes, Al Kamen says. (, The Washington Post)

Stepping out of the shadowsSabrina De Sousa wants an Italian court to overturn her conviction of helping to orchestrate the 2003 abduction of a radical Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan. ( by Ian Shapira , The Washington Post)

BUSINESSBusinesses assess effects of storm, power outageRestaurants across the region reported losing tens of thousands worth of food after being without electricity for days. Meanwhile, hotels and movie theaters saw a boom in business. ( by Abha Bhattarai , The Washington Post)

Fed officials split over next stepsThe minutes from the central bank’s June policy meeting show that the entity’s leaders are concerned about the economy but conflicted about what action, if any, to take. ( by Zachary A. Goldfarb , The Washington Post)

Romney receives boos at NAACP speechMitt Romney, trying to defeat the first black U.S. president, drew boos at times during a speech to the nation’s oldest civil-rights group as he said his policies would help the economic interests of blacks more than those of the Obama administration. ( by John McCormick Bloomberg News , Bloomberg)

Euro banks pass capital test, sort ofOrdered to boost their capital reserves by the European Banking Authority, major banks used a host of techniques, including government aid, but they raised little money from new investors. ( by Howard Schneider , The Washington Post)

WORLDSwords into plowsharesIn Hanoi, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Fulbright Exchange Program, which has involved 8,000 American and Vietnamese students, scholars, educators and businesspeople. (, The Washington Post)

Ban on U.S. investment in Burma is liftedThe move opens the door to U.S. companies, particularly in the energy sector, that have argued they were losing business to international competitors in Burma. ( by Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post)

July 04, 2012

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSOn July 4, a declaration of dependenceIt’s tough to be free when you’re tangled up in power cords at Starbucks or trapped under a mountain of Beanie Babies.(By Ann Gerhart)

As area swelters, residents fumeThousands had their electricity restored Tuesday, four days after the storm, but the process was fraught with miscommunication and exasperation.(By Michael E. Ruane and Patricia Sullivan)

More states may opt out of Medicaid expansionA growing number of Republican state leaders are revolting against the major expansion of Medicaid called for under President Obama’s health-care overhaul, threatening to undermine one of the law’s most fundamental goals: insuring millions of poor Americans.(By N.C. Aizenman and Sandhya Somashekhar)

More states may opt out of Medicaid expansionA growing number of Republican state leaders are revolting against the major expansion of Medicaid called for under President Obama’s health-care overhaul, threatening to undermine one of the law’s most fundamental goals: insuring millions of poor Americans. ( by N.C. Aizenman and Sandhya Somashekhar , The Washington Post)

Ocean explorer Bob Ballard joins search for downed Turkish warplaneOcean explorer Bob Ballard is in the Mediterranean Sea on a sensitive new mission: Searching for a Turkish warplane downed by Syrian fire. The mission could help resolve if the plane was downed inside Syrian airspace. ( by Brian Vastag and Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post)

The next generation of federal leaders“Leading is like running. Everyone thinks they can do it, but there’s actually a tremendous amount of technique involved.” - Dave Uejio, Young Government Leaders ( by Tom Fox , The Washington Post)

Loudoun board supports Silver LineVote on second phase of the Silver Line project will bring Metro to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County. ( by Caitlin Gibson , The Washington Post)

Day care hit with Pepco billCOLUMN | A day-care center for 118 children in SE D.C. finally pays off a $10,000 Pepco bill. (, The Washington Post)

A hot and cold running debateIf you’ve endured Snowmageddon and this week’s swelter, here’s a question: Better to broil or freeze? ( by Ian Shapira , The Washington Post)

As area swelters, residents fumeThousands had their electricity restored Tuesday, four days after the storm, but the process was fraught with miscommunication and exasperation. ( by Michael E. Ruane and Patricia Sullivan , The Washington Post)

Loudoun board supports Silver LineVote on second phase of the Silver Line project will bring Metro to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County. ( by Caitlin Gibson , The Washington Post)

Romney backers fight calls for shake-upSupporters of Mitt Romney are pushing back against calls for a campaign shake-up by Rupert Murdoch and Jack Welch, two industry titans who recently used Twitter to advise the candidate to dump his staff. ( by Nia-Malika Henderson and Karen Tumulty , The Washington Post)

Troubling issues about reverse mortgagesIn a new report on the product, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finds some troubling issues. Many borrowers still don’t understand the intricacies of the loan, for example. (, The Washington Post)

U.S. economy at risk, IMF report warnsIn its annual review of U.S. economic conditions, the fund urged officials to tackle issues that threaten growth, particularly the consequences of allowing tax cuts to expire next year. ( by Howard Schneider , The Washington Post)

SPORTSAndino’s homer in ninth lifts O’sRobert Andino homers in the ninth off Seattle reliever Charlie Furbush after Mariners starter flirts with a perfect game for six innings. ( by Eduardo A. Encina , The Washington Post)

Nats crush Lincecum, GiantsWashington’s thumping of the Giants adds further validation to their status, in the standings, as the best team in the National League. ( by Adam Kilgore , The Washington Post)

Autistic fan reaches for more at Nats ParkAutistic employee David Finland from McLean works as a ticket taker at the ballpark but yearns to handle additional responsibility. ( by Steve Yanda , The Washington Post)

S. Williams keeps American dream aliveOnly Serena Williams is left standing from the U.S. contingent at Wimbledon after she reaches the women’s semifinals. Mardy Fish and Brian Baker each lost in the men’s fourth round. ( by Liz Clarke , The Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGYEA exec: Firm to go ‘100 percent digital’EA LAbels president says, however, that the company will keep offering disc titles — as long as gamers want them. ( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Microsoft offers cheap upgrades for 8 ProThose who already use Windows XP, Vista or 7 can get their hands on the professional version of the software for just $40. Well, $39.99. ( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSOutages could last for daysD.C. area power companies said it could take up to a week for electricity across the region to be fully restored after violent storms swept through the region Friday night.(By Pamela Constable)

18 days of upheaval at U-Va.The drama that enveloped the University of Virginia in June is the story of a power play gone awry, with missteps and miscalculations on all sides.(By Paul Schwartzman, Daniel de Vise, Anita Kumar and Jenna Johnson)

LOCALJune began, ended with fierce stormsBesides Friday’s storms, the month of June started with tornadoes and included record high temperatures, though also some surprisingly pleasant days. ( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)

Outages could last for daysD.C. area power companies said it could take up to a week for electricity across the region to be fully restored after violent storms swept through the region Friday night. ( by Pamela Constable , The Washington Post)

18 days of upheaval at U-Va.The drama that enveloped the University of Virginia in June is the story of a power play gone awry, with missteps and miscalculations on all sides. ( by Paul Schwartzman, Daniel de Vise, Anita Kumar and Jenna Johnson , The Washington Post)

What becomes law on SundayHere is a partial list of the new laws taking effect in Maryland and Virginia. ( by Laura Vozzella and John Wagner , The Washington Post)

BUSINESSTraffic app relies on you for infoWaze, an app for Android and iPhone, delivers social-based updates on traffic conditions and other road incidents, with mixed results. (, The Washington Post)

Where is my real e-mail?Tired of subscriptions and listservs clogging up your inbox? A new Web app, Unroll.me, is here to help. (, The Washington Post)

Boomtown busts at its seamsThousands of people flock to Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, where the rapid expansion of oil sands mining has turned this northern outpost into a bustling small city — and severely strained its infrastructure. ( by Steven Mufson , The Washington Post)

An oil rush up northThe pipeline has become a powerful symbol and political pawn this election year. It is also a sort of Rorschach test of how Americans view energy issues. ( by Steven Mufson in FORT McMURRAY, Alberta , The Washington Post)

NHL free agents: What’s availableZach Parise and Ryan Suter head the list of free agents set to test the market, and the Capitals’ Alexander Semin is set to join them. (, The Washington Post)

Felix leaves no doubt with win in 200One week after finishing in a disappointing third-place tie in the 100 meters, Allyson Felix blows away the field in the 200 in Eugene. ( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

An important meetingEURO 2012 | Three weeks after Spain and Italy met in the group stage, they play again in the tournament championship. ( by Paul Logothetis , The Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGYCan Microsoft save RIM?RIM’s investors are apparently pushing the company’s board for extreme options like forming an alliance with Microsoft, according to a report. ( by VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)

Morsi sworn in as president of EgyptDespite mutual gestures of respect during day of ceremonies, Egypt’s ruling generals and new president are almost certain to clash. ( by Ernesto Londoño and Karin Brulliard , The Washington Post)

September 2012

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